System and method of preventing damage to metal traces of flexible printed circuits
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic system comprising:
- at least one panel;
at least one flexible circuit connected to the panel;
the flexible circuit comprising at least one stiffener, wherein the stiffener is co-planar with traces of the flexible circuit, wherein the stiffener is positioned along a central portion of the flexible circuit and parallel to an edge of the flexible circuit, and wherein the at least one stiffener resides in either one or both of;
a region where the flexible circuit crosses an edge of the panel such that the stiffener extends across the edge; and
a region where the flexible circuit bends such that the stiffener extends around the bend.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Stiffeners in are provided in a flexible printed circuit to prevent damages to leads and traces of the flexible circuit caused by bending, folding and other stresses.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An electronic system comprising:
-
at least one panel; at least one flexible circuit connected to the panel; the flexible circuit comprising at least one stiffener, wherein the stiffener is co-planar with traces of the flexible circuit, wherein the stiffener is positioned along a central portion of the flexible circuit and parallel to an edge of the flexible circuit, and wherein the at least one stiffener resides in either one or both of; a region where the flexible circuit crosses an edge of the panel such that the stiffener extends across the edge; and a region where the flexible circuit bends such that the stiffener extends around the bend. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A electronic system comprising:
-
at least one panel; at least one flexible circuit; and means for stiffening a portion of the flexible circuit wherein the means for stiffening is co-planar with traces of the at least one flexible circuit and wherein the means for stiffening is positioned along a central portion of the flexible circuit and parallel to an edge of the flexible circuit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
- 20. A method for preventing damage to metal conductors on or in a flexible circuit, the method compromising providing at least one stiffener at either one or both of a region where the flexible circuit overlaps a panel edge, and a region where the flexible circuit is bent wherein the at least one stiffener is co-planar with traces of the flexible circuit and wherein the at least one stiffener is positioned along a central portion of the flexible circuit and parallel to an edge of the flexible circuit.
-
23. An electronic system comprising:
-
at least one panel; at least one flexible circuit connected to the panel; the flexible circuit comprising at least one stiffener, wherein the stiffener is co-planar with traces of the flexible circuit, wherein the at least one stiffener is connected to at least one of a power source, a signal source, and a test trace, and wherein the at least one stiffener resides in either one or both of; a region where the flexible circuit crosses an edge of the panel such that the stiffener extends across the edge; and a region where the flexible circuit bends such that the stiffener extends around the bend.
-
-
24. A electronic system comprising:
-
at least one panel; at least one flexible circuit; and means for stiffening a portion of the flexible circuit wherein the means for stiffening is co-planar with traces of the at least one flexible circuit and wherein the means for stiffening is connected to at least one of a power source, a signal source, and a test trace.
-
-
25. A method for preventing damage to metal conductors on or in a flexible circuit, the method compromising providing at least one stiffener at either one or both of a region where the flexible circuit overlaps a panel edge, and a region where the flexible circuit is bent wherein the at least one stiffener is co-planar with traces of the flexible circuit and wherein the at least one stiffener is connected to at least one of a power source, a signal source, and a test trace.
Specification